2024

[Kismet]

The public does not need a shout fest with everybody talking over one another. Mic muting is something everybody on all sides has been asking for for a long, long time. We had it at the last debate. Worked pretty well. Let’s make it permanent. Doesn’t need to be a partisan thing.

Yep.

Doesn't matter - Fatso is going to bail. Count on it.

[njbill]

Maybe he will ask worm brain to take his place.

[youthathletics]

GOP candidate for President appears to be backing out of the September 10 debate. The issue is that GOP team wants mics muted when the other person is talking; Democrat's team wants to the mics on all the time so that Americans can here it all.

Here:

https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/18 ... 3624084486

More to the story....

Seems Kamala is the one pivoting: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/2 ... s-00176294

In June, President Joe Biden’s campaign came to an agreement with Trump’s: There would be two debates — CNN’s on June 27 and ABC’s on Sept. 10 — conducted by mutually negotiated rules. One of the Biden team’s demands — which the Trump team agreed to — was that microphones “will be muted throughout the debate except for the candidate whose turn it is to speak,” as CNN announced on June 15.


But Biden is no longer running for president. And Harris’ campaign wants the microphones to be hot at all times during the ABC debate — as has historically been the case at presidential debates.

You X Feed algorithm is all jacked up.

[youthathletics]

Tulsi switches camps and joins Trump.

BTW, where was Joe and Kamala today.....not in Arlington,VA.

[Seacoaster(1)]

GOP candidate for President appears to be backing out of the September 10 debate. The issue is that GOP team wants mics muted when the other person is talking; Democrat's team wants to the mics on all the time so that Americans can here it all.

Here:

https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/18 ... 3624084486

More to the story....

Seems Kamala is the one pivoting: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/2 ... s-00176294

In June, President Joe Biden’s campaign came to an agreement with Trump’s: There would be two debates — CNN’s on June 27 and ABC’s on Sept. 10 — conducted by mutually negotiated rules. One of the Biden team’s demands — which the Trump team agreed to — was that microphones “will be muted throughout the debate except for the candidate whose turn it is to speak,” as CNN announced on June 15.


But Biden is no longer running for president. And Harris’ campaign wants the microphones to be hot at all times during the ABC debate — as has historically been the case at presidential debates.

You X Feed algorithm is all jacked up.

Exactly, you got the right part and highlighted the wrong piece of it:

“ But Biden is no longer running for president. And Harris’ campaign wants the microphones to be hot at all times during the ABC debate — as has historically been the case at presidential debates.”

The “contract” was with Biden. He’s no longer one of the parties. Harris thinks the Biden Campaign was wrong, and that America should har every childish word from your Orange Prophet. New parties,new deal, new tactics. Basic stuff.

[youthathletics]

GOP candidate for President appears to be backing out of the September 10 debate. The issue is that GOP team wants mics muted when the other person is talking; Democrat's team wants to the mics on all the time so that Americans can here it all.

Here:

https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/18 ... 3624084486

More to the story....

Seems Kamala is the one pivoting: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/2 ... s-00176294

In June, President Joe Biden’s campaign came to an agreement with Trump’s: There would be two debates — CNN’s on June 27 and ABC’s on Sept. 10 — conducted by mutually negotiated rules. One of the Biden team’s demands — which the Trump team agreed to — was that microphones “will be muted throughout the debate except for the candidate whose turn it is to speak,” as CNN announced on June 15.


But Biden is no longer running for president. And Harris’ campaign wants the microphones to be hot at all times during the ABC debate — as has historically been the case at presidential debates.

You X Feed algorithm is all jacked up.

Exactly, you got the right part and highlighted the wrong piece of it:

“ But Biden is no longer running for president. And Harris’ campaign wants the microphones to be hot at all times during the ABC debate — as has historically been the case at presidential debates.”

The “contract” was with Biden. He’s no longer one of the parties. Harris thinks the Biden Campaign was wrong, and that America should har every childish word from your Orange Prophet. New parties,new deal, new tactics. Basic stuff.

So you agree….Harris changed the plans. Why didn’t you tee that up for us? In your first post. She only wants mics hot to try and poke the bear……and get him to pop off. I have heard clips of Trump saying he doesn’t care, not sure why it’s a big deal, other than Harris needing notes

[Seacoaster(1)]

GOP candidate for President appears to be backing out of the September 10 debate. The issue is that GOP team wants mics muted when the other person is talking; Democrat's team wants to the mics on all the time so that Americans can here it all.

Here:

https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/18 ... 3624084486

More to the story....

Seems Kamala is the one pivoting: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/2 ... s-00176294

In June, President Joe Biden’s campaign came to an agreement with Trump’s: There would be two debates — CNN’s on June 27 and ABC’s on Sept. 10 — conducted by mutually negotiated rules. One of the Biden team’s demands — which the Trump team agreed to — was that microphones “will be muted throughout the debate except for the candidate whose turn it is to speak,” as CNN announced on June 15.


But Biden is no longer running for president. And Harris’ campaign wants the microphones to be hot at all times during the ABC debate — as has historically been the case at presidential debates.

You X Feed algorithm is all jacked up.

Exactly, you got the right part and highlighted the wrong piece of it:

“ But Biden is no longer running for president. And Harris’ campaign wants the microphones to be hot at all times during the ABC debate — as has historically been the case at presidential debates.”

The “contract” was with Biden. He’s no longer one of the parties. Harris thinks the Biden Campaign was wrong, and that America should har every childish word from your Orange Prophet. New parties,new deal, new tactics. Basic stuff.

So you agree….Harris changed the plans. Why didn’t you tee that up for us? In your first post. She only wants mics hot to try and poke the bear……and get him to pop off. I have heard clips of Trump saying he doesn’t care, not sure why it’s a big deal, other than Harris needing notes

Sometimes I wonder….

Harris didn’t change her plans. She changed the plan agreed to by the former candidate.

Do you even understand that the things you say here are simply the bullet points of Trumpian supporters on “X”?? Almost every issue you raise is a Trump grievance propelled by his little X-Men. The Arlngton thing is the latest. Did you see the thumbs up photo by the fallen soldier’s grave? Classy. Do you think maybe he is trying for a photo op after the McCain comments, the Medal of Honor crassness?

Why as a declared Christian do you support Trump? How can you support him? Just a sad disgrace.

[NattyBohChamps04]

The Arlngton thing is the latest. Did you see the thumbs up photo by the fallen soldier’s grave? Classy. Do you think maybe he is trying for a photo op after the McCain comments, the Medal of Honor crassness?

Why as a declared Christian do you support Trump? How can you support him? Just a sad disgrace.

It was absolutely a photo op to score points. Trump is using dead servicemen to promote himself. He absolutely doesn't care about them in any other capacity.

Vomit inducing that people would cheer this kind of stuff on.

The smiling and thumbs up stuff is just the cherry on top.

[Typical Lax Dad]

The Arlngton thing is the latest. Did you see the thumbs up photo by the fallen soldier’s grave? Classy. Do you think maybe he is trying for a photo op after the McCain comments, the Medal of Honor crassness?

Why as a declared Christian do you support Trump? How can you support him? Just a sad disgrace.

It was absolutely a photo op to score points. Trump is using dead servicemen to promote himself. He absolutely doesn't care about them in any other capacity.

Vomit inducing that people would cheer this kind of stuff on.

The smiling and thumbs up stuff is just the cherry on top.

Dead service members as props.

[youthathletics]

GOP candidate for President appears to be backing out of the September 10 debate. The issue is that GOP team wants mics muted when the other person is talking; Democrat's team wants to the mics on all the time so that Americans can here it all.

Here:

https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/18 ... 3624084486

More to the story....

Seems Kamala is the one pivoting: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/2 ... s-00176294

In June, President Joe Biden’s campaign came to an agreement with Trump’s: There would be two debates — CNN’s on June 27 and ABC’s on Sept. 10 — conducted by mutually negotiated rules. One of the Biden team’s demands — which the Trump team agreed to — was that microphones “will be muted throughout the debate except for the candidate whose turn it is to speak,” as CNN announced on June 15.


But Biden is no longer running for president. And Harris’ campaign wants the microphones to be hot at all times during the ABC debate — as has historically been the case at presidential debates.

You X Feed algorithm is all jacked up.

Exactly, you got the right part and highlighted the wrong piece of it:

“ But Biden is no longer running for president. And Harris’ campaign wants the microphones to be hot at all times during the ABC debate — as has historically been the case at presidential debates.”

The “contract” was with Biden. He’s no longer one of the parties. Harris thinks the Biden Campaign was wrong, and that America should har every childish word from your Orange Prophet. New parties,new deal, new tactics. Basic stuff.

So you agree….Harris changed the plans. Why didn’t you tee that up for us? In your first post. She only wants mics hot to try and poke the bear……and get him to pop off. I have heard clips of Trump saying he doesn’t care, not sure why it’s a big deal, other than Harris needing notes

Sometimes I wonder….

Harris didn’t change her plans. She changed the plan agreed to by the former candidate.

Do you even understand that the things you say here are simply the bullet points of Trumpian supporters on “X”?? Almost every issue you raise is a Trump grievance propelled by his little X-Men. The Arlngton thing is the latest. Did you see the thumbs up photo by the fallen soldier’s grave? Classy. Do you think maybe he is trying for a photo op after the McCain comments, the Medal of Honor crassness?

Why as a declared Christian do you support Trump? How can you support him? Just a sad disgrace.

Exactly, it was not Trump initiating the pivot from the plans originally agreed upon.....did you or anyone bother to ask why she was uncomfortable with that style format, which many have agreed was nice during the Biden/Trump recent debate.

It may very well be a photo-op, so what, he 'took the time' out of his day to do this, which is about the most important thing someone can do for another. What is the rational excuse for Harris or Biden to not attend.....Biden need his beach time and Harris need more donors?

I do not support Trump for POTUS, but I do support what he did today....why you can no.t and immediately assume I am pro-trump for that stance further reveals a bit more about you.....implying it is a disgrace on my part for supporting attending fallen soldiers ceremony.

[MDlaxfan76]

GOP candidate for President appears to be backing out of the September 10 debate. The issue is that GOP team wants mics muted when the other person is talking; Democrat's team wants to the mics on all the time so that Americans can here it all.

Here:

https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/18 ... 3624084486

More to the story....

Seems Kamala is the one pivoting: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/2 ... s-00176294

In June, President Joe Biden’s campaign came to an agreement with Trump’s: There would be two debates — CNN’s on June 27 and ABC’s on Sept. 10 — conducted by mutually negotiated rules. One of the Biden team’s demands — which the Trump team agreed to — was that microphones “will be muted throughout the debate except for the candidate whose turn it is to speak,” as CNN announced on June 15.


But Biden is no longer running for president. And Harris’ campaign wants the microphones to be hot at all times during the ABC debate — as has historically been the case at presidential debates.

You X Feed algorithm is all jacked up.

Exactly, you got the right part and highlighted the wrong piece of it:

“ But Biden is no longer running for president. And Harris’ campaign wants the microphones to be hot at all times during the ABC debate — as has historically been the case at presidential debates.”

The “contract” was with Biden. He’s no longer one of the parties. Harris thinks the Biden Campaign was wrong, and that America should har every childish word from your Orange Prophet. New parties,new deal, new tactics. Basic stuff.

So you agree….Harris changed the plans. Why didn’t you tee that up for us? In your first post. She only wants mics hot to try and poke the bear……and get him to pop off. I have heard clips of Trump saying he doesn’t care, not sure why it’s a big deal, other than Harris needing notes

Sometimes I wonder….

Harris didn’t change her plans. She changed the plan agreed to by the former candidate.

Do you even understand that the things you say here are simply the bullet points of Trumpian supporters on “X”?? Almost every issue you raise is a Trump grievance propelled by his little X-Men. The Arlngton thing is the latest. Did you see the thumbs up photo by the fallen soldier’s grave? Classy. Do you think maybe he is trying for a photo op after the McCain comments, the Medal of Honor crassness?

Why as a declared Christian do you support Trump? How can you support him? Just a sad disgrace.

Exactly, it was not Trump initiating the pivot from the plans originally agreed upon.....did you or anyone bother to ask why she was uncomfortable with that style format, which many have agreed was nice during the Biden/Trump recent debate.

It may very well be a photo-op, so what, he 'took the time' out of his day to do this, which is about the most important thing someone can do for another. What is the rational excuse for Harris or Biden to not attend.....Biden need his beach time and Harris need more donors?

I do not support Trump for POTUS, but I do support what he did today....why you can no.t and immediately assume I am pro-trump for that stance further reveals a bit more about you.....implying it is a disgrace on my part for supporting attending fallen soldiers ceremony.

But what an effective power play by the Harris campaign, making Trump look scared to debate under the rules of all prior Presidential debates save June, or maybe even worse, his Campaign staff looking scared to have him debate without a mute button...Harris campaign saying, 'let the public hear him loud and clear, they won't like what they hear, they won't like his behavior...and his people know it so are scared". They went further and trolled them saying "someone should tell Trump they're worried"...and it's a "boss" move that Trump folded to within a day of it hitting the news, making even more clear that what his staff had been arguing about wasn't even what he wanted (or now wants)...or that he's just 'soft'...

This is a guy who refused to even debate in the primaries...you think maybe his staff knows something about his mental capacities? His emotional fragilities?
why do you imagine Harris was "uncomfortable" with the format?

I know why I wouldn't like it...when your opponent has zero regard for the truth and spouts off a dozen lies in 90 seconds it's impossible to do justice to even half of them in the same time period as well as stating your own views to the same question. But in a direct back and forth, one can address a lie immediately and not let the discussion progress before dealing with it one at a time. And it's extremely likely he'll lose his cool yet again when actually confronted.

This is another really impressive move by the Harris campaign, and more credit to them for doing it. These folks are not playing around with softball, it's hardball and they're all in. And they have Trump's number in so many ways.

[njbill]

I disagree. First of all, a deal is a deal. It seems like a technicality to say that since the candidates changed, you can completely renegotiate everything. Harris has agreed to the most important aspects of the prior deal: date and network. She now wants to pick and choose the other terms? Bad idea.

Second, nobody wants open mic. We have had enough chaos in debates past. The people have been calling for the mute button for decades. We now have it. Nobody wants to give it up.

Harris’ rollout has been great so far. While this isn’t a hugely important issue, it is a smallish stumble. No need for it.

Of course Trump is going to show up. He is just playing his usual games. Harris should drop her objections which will help to flush Trump out. She needs to put her energy into winning the debate, which will not be nearly as easy as people seem to think it will be.

[youthathletics]

I disagree. First of all, a deal is a deal. It seems like a technicality to say that since the candidates changed, you can completely renegotiate everything. Harris has agreed to the most important aspects of the prior deal: date and network. She now wants to pick and choose the other terms? Bad idea.

Second, nobody wants open mic. We have had enough chaos in debates past. The people have been calling for the mute button for decades. We now have it. Nobody wants to give it up.

Harris’ rollout has been great so far. While this isn’t a hugely important issue, it is a smallish stumble. No need for it.

Of course Trump is going to show up. He is just playing his usual games. Harris should drop her objections which will help to flush Trump out. She needs to put her energy into winning the debate, which will not be nearly as easy as people seem to think it will be.

+100 you nailed it on each point.

[Typical Lax Dad]

GOP candidate for President appears to be backing out of the September 10 debate. The issue is that GOP team wants mics muted when the other person is talking; Democrat's team wants to the mics on all the time so that Americans can here it all.

Here:

https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/18 ... 3624084486

More to the story....

Seems Kamala is the one pivoting: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/2 ... s-00176294

In June, President Joe Biden’s campaign came to an agreement with Trump’s: There would be two debates — CNN’s on June 27 and ABC’s on Sept. 10 — conducted by mutually negotiated rules. One of the Biden team’s demands — which the Trump team agreed to — was that microphones “will be muted throughout the debate except for the candidate whose turn it is to speak,” as CNN announced on June 15.


But Biden is no longer running for president. And Harris’ campaign wants the microphones to be hot at all times during the ABC debate — as has historically been the case at presidential debates.

You X Feed algorithm is all jacked up.

Exactly, you got the right part and highlighted the wrong piece of it:

“ But Biden is no longer running for president. And Harris’ campaign wants the microphones to be hot at all times during the ABC debate — as has historically been the case at presidential debates.”

The “contract” was with Biden. He’s no longer one of the parties. Harris thinks the Biden Campaign was wrong, and that America should har every childish word from your Orange Prophet. New parties,new deal, new tactics. Basic stuff.

So you agree….Harris changed the plans. Why didn’t you tee that up for us? In your first post. She only wants mics hot to try and poke the bear……and get him to pop off. I have heard clips of Trump saying he doesn’t care, not sure why it’s a big deal, other than Harris needing notes

Sometimes I wonder….

Harris didn’t change her plans. She changed the plan agreed to by the former candidate.

Do you even understand that the things you say here are simply the bullet points of Trumpian supporters on “X”?? Almost every issue you raise is a Trump grievance propelled by his little X-Men. The Arlngton thing is the latest. Did you see the thumbs up photo by the fallen soldier’s grave? Classy. Do you think maybe he is trying for a photo op after the McCain comments, the Medal of Honor crassness?

Why as a declared Christian do you support Trump? How can you support him? Just a sad disgrace.

Exactly, it was not Trump initiating the pivot from the plans originally agreed upon.....did you or anyone bother to ask why she was uncomfortable with that style format, which many have agreed was nice during the Biden/Trump recent debate.

It may very well be a photo-op, so what, he 'took the time' out of his day to do this, which is about the most important thing someone can do for another. What is the rational excuse for Harris or Biden to not attend.....Biden need his beach time and Harris need more donors?

I do not support Trump for POTUS, but I do support what he did today....why you can no.t and immediately assume I am pro-trump for that stance further reveals a bit more about you.....implying it is a disgrace on my part for supporting attending fallen soldiers ceremony.

But what an effective power play by the Harris campaign, making Trump look scared to debate under the rules of all prior Presidential debates save June, or maybe even worse, his Campaign staff looking scared to have him debate without a mute button...Harris campaign saying, 'let the public hear him loud and clear, they won't like what they hear, they won't like his behavior...and his people know it so are scared". They went further and trolled them saying "someone should tell Trump they're worried"...and it's a "boss" move that Trump folded to within a day of it hitting the news, making even more clear that what his staff had been arguing about wasn't even what he wanted (or now wants)...or that he's just 'soft'...

This is a guy who refused to even debate in the primaries...you think maybe his staff knows something about his mental capacities? His emotional fragilities?
why do you imagine Harris was "uncomfortable" with the format?

I know why I wouldn't like it...when your opponent has zero regard for the truth and spouts off a dozen lies in 90 seconds it's impossible to do justice to even half of them in the same time period as well as stating your own views to the same question. But in a direct back and forth, one can address a lie immediately and not let the discussion progress before dealing with it one at a time. And it's extremely likely he'll lose his cool yet again when actually confronted.

This is another really impressive move by the Harris campaign, and more credit to them for doing it. These folks are not playing around with softball, it's hardball and they're all in. And they have Trump's number in so many ways.

It paints Trump in a bad light. The reality is, nobody wants the chaos of an open mic but the Harris campaign would use his inability to hold his tongue and nonsensical rambling against him. His staff knows it. In the end, if there is a debate at all, Donald’s mic will be muted. This is how far we have fallen. An open mic in a Presidential debate is an issue in 2024. I wonder how that happened?

[MDlaxfan76]

GOP candidate for President appears to be backing out of the September 10 debate. The issue is that GOP team wants mics muted when the other person is talking; Democrat's team wants to the mics on all the time so that Americans can here it all.

Here:

https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/18 ... 3624084486

More to the story....

Seems Kamala is the one pivoting: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/2 ... s-00176294

In June, President Joe Biden’s campaign came to an agreement with Trump’s: There would be two debates — CNN’s on June 27 and ABC’s on Sept. 10 — conducted by mutually negotiated rules. One of the Biden team’s demands — which the Trump team agreed to — was that microphones “will be muted throughout the debate except for the candidate whose turn it is to speak,” as CNN announced on June 15.


But Biden is no longer running for president. And Harris’ campaign wants the microphones to be hot at all times during the ABC debate — as has historically been the case at presidential debates.

You X Feed algorithm is all jacked up.

Exactly, you got the right part and highlighted the wrong piece of it:

“ But Biden is no longer running for president. And Harris’ campaign wants the microphones to be hot at all times during the ABC debate — as has historically been the case at presidential debates.”

The “contract” was with Biden. He’s no longer one of the parties. Harris thinks the Biden Campaign was wrong, and that America should har every childish word from your Orange Prophet. New parties,new deal, new tactics. Basic stuff.

So you agree….Harris changed the plans. Why didn’t you tee that up for us? In your first post. She only wants mics hot to try and poke the bear……and get him to pop off. I have heard clips of Trump saying he doesn’t care, not sure why it’s a big deal, other than Harris needing notes

Sometimes I wonder….

Harris didn’t change her plans. She changed the plan agreed to by the former candidate.

Do you even understand that the things you say here are simply the bullet points of Trumpian supporters on “X”?? Almost every issue you raise is a Trump grievance propelled by his little X-Men. The Arlngton thing is the latest. Did you see the thumbs up photo by the fallen soldier’s grave? Classy. Do you think maybe he is trying for a photo op after the McCain comments, the Medal of Honor crassness?

Why as a declared Christian do you support Trump? How can you support him? Just a sad disgrace.

Exactly, it was not Trump initiating the pivot from the plans originally agreed upon.....did you or anyone bother to ask why she was uncomfortable with that style format, which many have agreed was nice during the Biden/Trump recent debate.

It may very well be a photo-op, so what, he 'took the time' out of his day to do this, which is about the most important thing someone can do for another. What is the rational excuse for Harris or Biden to not attend.....Biden need his beach time and Harris need more donors?

I do not support Trump for POTUS, but I do support what he did today....why you can no.t and immediately assume I am pro-trump for that stance further reveals a bit more about you.....implying it is a disgrace on my part for supporting attending fallen soldiers ceremony.

But what an effective power play by the Harris campaign, making Trump look scared to debate under the rules of all prior Presidential debates save June, or maybe even worse, his Campaign staff looking scared to have him debate without a mute button...Harris campaign saying, 'let the public hear him loud and clear, they won't like what they hear, they won't like his behavior...and his people know it so are scared". They went further and trolled them saying "someone should tell Trump they're worried"...and it's a "boss" move that Trump folded to within a day of it hitting the news, making even more clear that what his staff had been arguing about wasn't even what he wanted (or now wants)...or that he's just 'soft'...

This is a guy who refused to even debate in the primaries...you think maybe his staff knows something about his mental capacities? His emotional fragilities?
why do you imagine Harris was "uncomfortable" with the format?

I know why I wouldn't like it...when your opponent has zero regard for the truth and spouts off a dozen lies in 90 seconds it's impossible to do justice to even half of them in the same time period as well as stating your own views to the same question. But in a direct back and forth, one can address a lie immediately and not let the discussion progress before dealing with it one at a time. And it's extremely likely he'll lose his cool yet again when actually confronted.

This is another really impressive move by the Harris campaign, and more credit to them for doing it. These folks are not playing around with softball, it's hardball and they're all in. And they have Trump's number in so many ways.

It paints Trump in a bad light. The reality is, nobody wants the chaos of an open mic but the Harris campaign would use his inability to hold his tongue and nonsensical rambling against him. His staff knows it. In the end, if there is a debate at all, Donald’s mic will be muted. This is how far we have fallen. An open mic in a Presidential debate is an issue in 2024. I wonder how that happened?

I think it will not be muted as he’s already now saying he’d prefer open…took the bait.
The ridicule will be merciless.
Just saw the ad with his crowd behind him yawning. Brutal for his ego.

[MDlaxfan76]

I disagree. First of all, a deal is a deal. It seems like a technicality to say that since the candidates changed, you can completely renegotiate everything. Harris has agreed to the most important aspects of the prior deal: date and network. She now wants to pick and choose the other terms? Bad idea.

Second, nobody wants open mic. We have had enough chaos in debates past. The people have been calling for the mute button for decades. We now have it. Nobody wants to give it up.

Harris’ rollout has been great so far. While this isn’t a hugely important issue, it is a smallish stumble. No need for it.

Of course Trump is going to show up. He is just playing his usual games. Harris should drop her objections which will help to flush Trump out. She needs to put her energy into winning the debate, which will not be nearly as easy as people seem to think it will be.

Disagree. It’s a “boss” power move, no win for Trump.

The strategy of ridiculing Trump is proving to be far more effective than the constant portrayal of him as an existential threat . The latter is true, and won’t be forgotten, but Trump’s biggest weakness is his massive uncontrollable ego. Low information voters in the middle are turned off by his chaos and anger…let them see as much as possible. His campaign is desperate to control him, but that ticks him off all the more when it’s pointed out publicly. And this will be on full display with an open mic. Moreover, she will make obvious how rude he is.

He’s already saying he’d prefer an open mic, taking the bait, and one can imagine those staff discussions! McMaster just described how Trump would regularly ignore his advisors unanimous advice and do the exact opposite…to ill, stupid effect. Ego.

I do agree that it would be better if there was an actual serious and honest debate where each waited their turn, but that’s not going to be the situation ever with Trump.

I also don’t agree with a deal is a deal in this scenario. Different candidate, new deal. It’s a power move, forcing him into a no win situation. Psychology. These folks are playing to win, hardball.

[Typical Lax Dad]

I disagree. First of all, a deal is a deal. It seems like a technicality to say that since the candidates changed, you can completely renegotiate everything. Harris has agreed to the most important aspects of the prior deal: date and network. She now wants to pick and choose the other terms? Bad idea.

Second, nobody wants open mic. We have had enough chaos in debates past. The people have been calling for the mute button for decades. We now have it. Nobody wants to give it up.

Harris’ rollout has been great so far. While this isn’t a hugely important issue, it is a smallish stumble. No need for it.

Of course Trump is going to show up. He is just playing his usual games. Harris should drop her objections which will help to flush Trump out. She needs to put her energy into winning the debate, which will not be nearly as easy as people seem to think it will be.

Disagree. It’s a “boss” power move, no win for Trump.

The strategy of ridiculing Trump is proving to be far more effective than the constant portrayal of him as an existential threat . The latter is true, and won’t be forgotten, but Trump’s biggest weakness is his massive uncontrollable ego. Low information voters in the middle are turned off by his chaos and anger…let them see as much as possible. His campaign is desperate to control him, but that ticks him off all the more when it’s pointed out publicly. And this will be on full display with an open mic. Moreover, she will make obvious how rude he is.

He’s already saying he’d prefer an open mic, taking the bait, and one can imagine those staff discussions! McMaster just described how Trump would regularly ignore his advisors unanimous advice and do the exact opposite…to ill, stupid effect. Ego.

I do agree that it would be better if there was an actual serious and honest debate where each waited their turn, but that’s not going to be the situation ever with Trump.

I also don’t agree with a deal is a deal in this scenario. Different candidate, new deal. It’s a power move, forcing him into a no win situation. Psychology. These folks are playing to win, hardball.

How many deals has Trump team’s broken? Didn’t he skip debates in the past after agree to them?

[Seacoaster(1)]

I disagree. First of all, a deal is a deal. It seems like a technicality to say that since the candidates changed, you can completely renegotiate everything. Harris has agreed to the most important aspects of the prior deal: date and network. She now wants to pick and choose the other terms? Bad idea.

Second, nobody wants open mic. We have had enough chaos in debates past. The people have been calling for the mute button for decades. We now have it. Nobody wants to give it up.

Harris’ rollout has been great so far. While this isn’t a hugely important issue, it is a smallish stumble. No need for it.

Of course Trump is going to show up. He is just playing his usual games. Harris should drop her objections which will help to flush Trump out. She needs to put her energy into winning the debate, which will not be nearly as easy as people seem to think it will be.

Respectfully, I disagree. This is a political campaign, not a contract to deliver products or services, and Harris -- as the candidate who will sit in the debate herself -- has the right to seek the terms she believes best position her to win. She thinks that is an open mic. The fact that Harris agreed to the other parts of the prior deal with Biden-Harris or just Biden is not really relevant to me. The idea is to win; the idea is to get the terms you want to elicit conduct that helps you to win. Harris is not, as they say, f*cking around. She thinks Trump will perform badly with a mic that is always amplifying his blather. She thinks she can speak over him, if necessary, which perhaps Biden could not. New candidate, new terms.

Most times I would agree that "nobody wants an open mic." But the Harris campaign has adopted a "let Trump be Trump" and let Trump say offensive and mean-spirited stuff strategy. Debates are, to my mind, totally useless and meaningless endeavors (except, maybe, when the candidate performs badly enough to convince folks he should be removed from the ticket!!).

I don't think this is necessarily a stumble. She is certainly trying to mess with Trump; she certainly thinks an open mic will hurt him, because he has no editorial control over his mouth.

I agree with you, Bill, about the debate itself; it won't be easy to "win," whatever that means to people.

[njbill]

MD, I agree with most of what you say, but as the consumer, I would much prefer the mute button.

I don’t know if the parties sign actual contracts in advance of these debates and, if so, what the terms are and who the parties are. Did the Biden/Harris campaign sign a contract with the Trump campaign? If so, and this is just the lawyer in me, I would think the campaign should honor the terms of the deal that was agreed upon. Now, maybe those terms don’t rise to the level of an enforceable contract. I don’t know. In any event, picking the terms you like and rejecting the terms you don’t like isn’t a good look in my view.

Trying to talk when someone else is talking is very distracting. And Trump is the king of distractions. Not a lot of people can do it well. Can Kamala? I don’t know.

He will probably lie close to 100% of the time. She can’t go down the rabbit hole of trying to respond to each and every lie. She needs to say something like, “pretty much everything out of your mouth is a lie, Donald. I’m not going to spend my time in the debate, which is limited, responding to each and every lie. I’ll just address a few.” And then address the biggest whoppers or the ones that are easily and obviously refutable. She needs to stay on the offensive. Responding to his lies is playing defense. I don’t think that’s a good strategy.

And remember, she has not done a debate for four years. Lots and lots of politicians have been rusty when they haven’t debated for a long time.

Debating Trump is tough because of all of the chaos and nonsense he engenders. I am not convinced she will be able to mop the floor with him. Remember, Hillary eviscerated Trump, yet he won the election. Yes, 2016 is a lot different than 2024, but the bar for her will be high and for Trump low.

No question he is flopping around like a fish on the dock right now, but never overestimate, never underestimate your opponent.

The sugar high period is over. Now the real, tough work begins. There are only a few flickers of summer left. Now voters are paying attention.

[Seacoaster(1)]

This, in addition to members of his own cabinet and administration who won't endorse him. When has this ever happened?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics ... ey-mccain/

"More than 200 Republicans who worked for President George W. Bush, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) or the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) have endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, warning in a letter that a second Trump presidency “will hurt real, everyday people and weaken our sacred institutions.”

The open letter with the endorsement was first published Monday in USA Today, with 238 signatures.

The group of former Bush, McCain and Romney staffers issued a similar letter supporting Joe Biden when he ran against Trump in 2020. In their new, pro-Harris letter, alumni from those three top Republicans were joined by at least five former staffers to the late President George H.W. Bush.

In the letter, the GOP alumni wrote that they are voting for Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, despite policy differences.

“Of course, we have plenty of honest, ideological disagreements with Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz,” they wrote. “That’s to be expected. The alternative, however, is simply untenable.”

Those who signed the pro-Harris letter include Jean Becker, George H.W. Bush’s chief of staff; Mark Salter and Chris Koch, former chiefs of staff for McCain; David Nierenberg, Romney’s 2012 campaign finance chair; and David Garman, undersecretary for energy under George W. Bush.

The letter is not only supportive of Harris but critical of Trump. In it, the Republican alumni say Trump presents a threat to the United States and countries around the world, saying that he and his “acolyte,” running mate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), “kowtow to dictators like [Russian President] Vladimir Putin while turning their backs on our allies. We can’t let that happen.”

The group also wrote that “moderate Republicans and conservative independents in key swing states” were key in securing Biden’s 2020 victory as they “put country far before party” — and that they must once again “take a brave stand” in this election and support Harris over Trump.

In response to the letter, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in an email that the group “would rather see the country burn down than to see President Trump successfully return to the White House.”

The letter highlights the continued divisions among Republicans over the party’s embrace of Trump. At the Democratic National Convention last week, several Republicans came out in support of Harris.

Stephanie Grisham, who served as Trump’s press secretary as well as chief of staff to first lady Melania Trump, described her evolution from “true believer” to a critic of the former president, saying that the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection was her last straw, The Washington Post reported. Grisham also claimed in her speech that behind closed doors, Trump mocked his supporters as “basement dwellers.” (In response, the Trump campaign described her as a “stone cold loser.”)

Other Republicans who spoke at the convention included John Giles, the mayor of Mesa, Ariz., and former congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump."